LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 July 1920, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The election for a vacancy on the Christchurch City Council resulted: F. C. Cooke (Labor), 886; C. E. Boon (Independent), 639. —Press Association.

The Stratford Chamber of Commerce is moving in the direction of having New Plymouth the port of landing for the Taranaki district of shipments of phosphate rock from Nauru Island. The meeting of delegates to consider the formation of a Taranaki Progressive League takes place at the Municipal Chambers, Stratford (not New Plymouth), on Monday next", at 2.30 p.m. The Otago Centre of the New Zealand Swimming Association has decided to hold the Dominion championships at Dunedin during the carnival week in February next. —Press Association.

By 579 votes to 90 the Manawatu County ratepayers sanctioned a loan of £30,000 for extensions and improvements to the tramway system and for the purchase of road making machinery. —Press Association.

The tunnel workers at the Bealey end of thq Otira tunnel re-commenced work yesterday on day labor, as the Minister of Public Works is sending Mr. Dinnie (formerly engineer in charge of the tunnel works) to fix up the terms of the new gontracts. —Press Association.

At yesterday's sitting of tfoe Eltham Magistrate's Court, Carl Ritter applied for an order for possession of a house occupied by F. Hook® Counsel for the latter submitted that the notice given Hook was insufficient, and the Magistrate ordered the elhim to be struck out and allowed costs to the defendant.

Buying the voyage of the Ruahine, which arrived at Auckland yesterday, Mrs. B. Tinker died of acute bronchitis. There were three cases of chicken-pox, aiidjsonie mild cases of malaria. Two birtW took place at sea, one yesterday morning.—Press Association. At yesterday's meeting, the Taranaki Education Board adopted a recommendation from the finance committee: "That the Board insure with the State office the legal risk of Board and Committees against accidents to school children.

The Hawera Star says the Mangatoki Co-operative Dairy Company and another Taranaki co-operative dairy company have decided to consign their 1920-21 output, less what may be purchased by the Imperial Government, on terms similar to those obtaining in prewar times.

"The month has been a very busy one in the building permit line," says Inspector Day in his monthly report to the New Plymouth Borough Council. Twenty-six permits have been granted. This represents 20 new houses. Fees amount to £76 4s <sd, and the value of the buildings was £17,435." During a discussion on motor regulations at the Patea County Council meeting on Monday. Cr. Walker stated that no less than five motor mishaps occurred in the region of Waverley, and two of the cars capsized. Fortunately no one was seriously injured, although some of the motor cars were considerably damaged. ■

The Taranaki Education Board yesterday supported a recommendation by the Director of the Wellington Training College, that the Government be recommended, when amending the Defence Act, to take notice of the shortage of time allowed to technical scholars for study, on account of one night per week being taken for drilling purposes. Tlie steamer Mahana, arriving in Wellington to-morrow, is the first immigrant boat since the suspension •of immigration during the war. There are altogether 955 passengers on board, comprised as follows: —For Wellington, 250; Auckland, 31A; New Plymouth. 50; Wanganui, 40; Gisborne. 50: Napier, 5; Picton. 10: Nelson, 10; West-port, 10; Lyttelton, 90; Timaru. 10: Oamaru, 5; Port Chalmers, 75; Bluff. 30; Greymoutlu 10.

The Opunake Times reports that at t'no present time there is not a vacant house in the town.

It is understood that the value of the estate left by the late Mrs. M. A. Williams exceeded a quarter of a million sterling, says the Wellington Dominion.

The Manaia Witness says that the contractor is making steady progress with the removal of houses from the railway station site, and the work of levelling the yard is well in hand.

"I understand that on wel days the footballers who play on the Petone Recreation Ground carry away half the soil on their boots. If a man was asked to work on a wet day half the unions in New Zealand would be down upon him." Thus a Wellington city councillor.

The profits of the canteen at Trentham Military Camp are divided amongst the units in camp according to their numerical strength. In the last distribution of £IOO the Army Ordnance Corps received £32 14s 4d, the N.Z.A.MC. £27 14s, Temporary Employment Section £l4 4s lid, Army Service Corps £7 18s 4d, and six other units smaller amounts

Some of the Wellington butchers are concerned at the recent reduction in the price paid for i>ough fat. In the last two months the price has been reduced by £l4 per ton, and consequently is affecting the batchers (especially the small concerns) "very seriously. In connection with this detail, one vendor expressed the opinion to a New Zealand Times' l*reporter that "probably the buyers of rough fat will now be enabled to substantially reduce the price of soap ind candles."

Tlia Christehurch Sun says editorially: "During the session members will be asked to vote themselves an increase in salary. It is a uniquely liappy position to be in, but the country will agree that £3OO per annum is not a living political wage, when an expert and hard-working miner can earn £6 per week, and skilled tradesmen almost as much. Wit 1 ' payment for services going up and up, there is no reason why the salary of the M.P. should remain stationary. At the New Plymouth abattoir during June there were slaughtered for local consumption 231 cattle, 34 calves, 7(55 sheep, 23 lambs, 139 pigs, and 1 sucking pig. Compared with last .Tune the fisrures show an increase of 30 cattle, 16 calves, 119 sheep, 56 pigs, and 28 tripes, and a dterease of 22 lambs. The fees earned, namely, £167 Is lOd, show an increase of £2B 14s 6d ov"er last year's period. their representatives met the Horough Council on Monday evening, the Xow .Plymouth Astronomical Society lim. been informed that their request for a borough subsidy to farther the Society's efforts will be. considered when the estimates are brought down in February next, the Society being advised to make a fresh application at that period. The matter of the Council assisting in .improving the grounds at the observatory has been referred to a committee to report on.

The suggestion that itinerant teachers be provided for sparsely-populated districts was discussed by the Taranaki Education Board yesterday. The chairman (Mr. A. Lees) said he did not think Taranaki was affected much, and Mr. H. Trimble also exprassed the opinion that there were not many children of school age who were not reached by-the Board. It was decided to send further circulars inquiring as to any children in remote districts which lack educational facilities. ,

At the Eltham Magistrate's Court yesterday, W. C. Clement sued W. H. Hunter for £25 arrears of rent and possession of the house. In reply to the Magistrate, Hunter said he had six children, the eldest of whom was 12- years of age, and living was at present so expensive that he had been unable to keep up hU payments. Furthor, lie had lost- a month's. work through contracting influenza at the time of the epidemic, and was now earning lGis per day, and the amount of the rent was ]os per week. The Magistrate said the rent was not extortionate, hut was a particularly easy one. With proper management defendant should be able to keep his family going on 16s per day. Defendant declaredi. that he mulj,! not feed his family as they should be fed and meet his other/ liabilities. He maintained that children that were not properly nourished in their infancy were no good to themselves or to the State. The Magistrate agreed, but said a house to live in was almost as essential as food to thotc children. Defendant would have to pay his rent. Defendant: Then Hie children will have to starve! It doesn't matter if they die!. The Magistrate said he would not like to turn defendant and his six children out of the house so long as the rent was paid. Re made an order for possession of the house, which, however,. would not be issued so long as defendant paid the rent. Defendant would also have to pay 2s Gd per week off the arrears. Defendant said lie would strive to do so.—Argus.